New Nursing Contract Awarded to Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
Public health nursing services will continue to be provided by Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust following the award of a new contract from 1 April 2026. The service is delivered by health visitors and school nurses to children and families across Hertfordshire. It already operates as part of the wider Family Centre Service, delivered in partnership with One YMCA, to provide universal and targeted support for Hertfordshire’s families.
The service meets the changing needs of the local population, promotes innovation and has an enhanced focus on addressing health inequalities. Under the new contract, additional pre-school checks will be provided for some children and an annual health and wellbeing offer provided to children missing from education or electively home educated.
The successful tender from Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust included detailed plans for automating processes to release more time for front line staff to spend with residents and commits to developing a 'tell us once' system for engaging families. Refreshed approaches for antenatal checks and breastfeeding will ensure expectant and new parents have access to the specific support that they need.
As a result of transforming the way Public Health Nursing is delivered, we will have a strong, effective Health Visiting and School Nursing service, offering the best possible support to infants, children, young people and their families across Hertfordshire.
"Public Health has worked with a range of stakeholders over the last two years to transform the Public Health Nursing Service. I'm proud that as a result of that partnership working, the new service provides a more comprehensive and inclusive offer for families and children, and supports other parts of the health, care and education system in delivering shared priorities. This service, provided by a dedicated, highly skilled and passionate Public Health Nursing workforce will deliver good public health outcomes for Hertfordshire's families, infants, children and young people, so that they receive the best start in life, and continue to thrive as they grow.
- Sarah Perman, Director of Public Health for Hertfordshire County Council
"We are delighted to be continuing to deliver the public health nursing services for Hertfordshire. We know that our staff, working with our partners, are best placed to anticipate, understand and respond to the health and wellbeing needs of local residents. Through the new contract, we will be delivering the same high-quality care and support to babies, children and families, with key changes which reflect the changing local and national priorities for health and care, including increased digitisation, enhanced integration and co-delivery and streamlined admin processes.
- Elliot Howard-Jones, CEO of HCT